Penstemon plant named ‘Novapenros’

ABSTRACT

The new  Penstemon  plant was created by a controlled plant breeding program followed by selection, open pollination, and further selection. The growth habit is upright with strong basal branching and excellent vigor. Attractive large bright pink flowers with a white throat on sturdy stems are formed. There is no vernalization requirement for flowering. An upright mounding growth habit is displayed. The plant readily roots from stem cuttings and is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation.

Botanical/commercial classification: Penstemon hybida/Penstemon Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. Novapenros.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Penstemon plants, sometimes known as Beard Tongue, are herbaceous perennials which provide colorful flowers during the summer.

The new Penstemon plant of the present invention was created and discovered at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A. The female parent (e.g., seed parent) was an unnamed, non-patented breeder seedling resulting from the cross of Penstemon mexicali ‘Sunburst Ruby’ (non-patented)×Penstemon hartwegii ‘Giganteus’ (non-patented). This breeder seedling, which served as the female parent, was selected from the progeny of the cross in view of its large blooms, increased branching, and extended length of bloom time. This female parent next underwent open pollination in a controlled plant nursery setting tended by man. Seed from this open pollination was collected during October 2011 and was grown in November 2011. Seedlings were observed from the possible presence of promising novel photypes during the summer of 2012 when the plant of the present invention was selected on the basis of large colorful blossoms, well-branched growth habit, sturdy stems, and prolonged bloom time. Had this new plant not been selected and preserved it would have been lost to mankind.

The parentage of the new cultivar can be summarized as follows: (Penstemon mexicali ‘Sunburst Ruby’×Penstemon hartwegii ‘Giganteus’)×Open Pollination.

It was found that the new Penstemon plant displays the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) displays an upright growth habit with strong basal branching         and excellent vigor,     -   (b) is lacking a vernalization requirement for flowering,     -   (c) abundantly forms attractive large bright pink flowers with a         white throat on sturdy stems, and     -   (d) is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation.

During observations to date, the plant has been found to be hardy at U.S.D.A. Hardiness Zone No. 6. Trimming of the plant promotes further flowering.

The new cultivar well meets the needs of the horticultural industry and can be grown to advantage as a perennial garden plant to provide colorful ornamentation. The plant performs well when grown along borders or sidewalks as well as in containers.

Plants of the new cultivar can be readily distinguished from other Penstemon cultivars. More specifically, when compared to its ‘Sunburst Ruby’ ancestor, the new cultivar displays lighter pink colored flowers that are considerably larger in size, and when compared to its ‘Giganteus’ ancestor displays a different flower coloration unlike the flowers bright red flowers of ‘Giganteus’.

Also, when compared to the ‘Strawberry Taffy’ cultivar (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 22,569), the new cultivar displays larger bright pink flowers with a white throat unlike the purple-red flowers with a white throat and a deep purple ring at the top of the throat of the ‘Strawberry Taffy’ cultivar. Also, the new cultivar displays considerably more branching than the ‘Blueberry Taffy’ cultivar

The new cultivar readily roots from stem cuttings.

The rooting of vegetative cuttings has been used to asexually propagate the new cultivar at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A. It has been found that the characteristics of the new cultivar are stable and are reliably transmitted from one generation to another. Accordingly, the new cultivar can be asexually reproduced in a true-to-type manner.

The new cultivar of the present invention has been named ‘Novapenros’, and will be marketed under the ROSE QUARTZ Trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs illustrate typical flowering plants of the new cultivar in color as nearly true as it is reasonably possible make the same in color illustrations of this nature. The plants were approximately one year of age and were being grown outdoors on their own roots in containers during July 2014 at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A. The plants had been asexually reproduced by the rooting of vegetative cuttings.

FIG. 1 illustrates the attractive upright growth habit of a flowering plant of the new cultivar.

FIG. 2 illustrates a closer view of the blossoms in various stages of development and the foliage of the new cultivar.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The following is a detailed description while observing one-year-old plants of the new cultivar that were produced by the rooting of vegetative cuttings. Such plants were being grown in containers on their own roots at West Grove, Pa., U.S.A. The chart used in the identification of color is The R.H.S. Colour Chart (1995 Edition) of The Royal Horticultural Society, London, England. Common color terms are to be accorded their customary dictionary significance.

-   Botanical classification: Penstemon, cv. Novapenros.     -   -   Parents.—Cross of ‘Sunburst Ruby’×‘Giganteus’, followed by             selection, open pollination, and further selection.         -   Plant type.—Herbaceous perennial. -   Plant:     -   -   Growth habit.—Upright with considerable branching.         -   Height.—Approximately 58 cm on average when mature.         -   Spread.—Approximately 50 cm on average when mature.         -   Vigor.—Excellent.         -   Branching.—Commonly approximately 12 stems on average arise             at the base.         -   Stem length.—Approximately 30 cm on average.         -   Stem diameter.—Approximately 1.2 cm at the base on average.         -   Stem strength.—Relatively strong.         -   Stem color.—Near Green Group 143C.         -   Stem texture.—Glabrous.         -   Internode length.—Commonly approximately 2 cm on average.         -   Roots.—Fibrous network. -   Foliage:     -   -   Arrangement.—Opposite, simple, sessile.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Truncate.         -   Length.—Commonly approximately 7 cm on average.         -   Width.—Commonly approximately 1 cm on average.         -   Texture.—Glabrous on the upper and under surfaces.         -   Color.—On the upper surface near Green Group 137A, and on             the lower surface near Green Group 137C.         -   Margins.—Denticulate.         -   Venation.—Pinnate. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Season.—The natural flowering season when grown outside is             primarily mid-June to frost in October.         -   Type.—Zygomorphic, perfect tubular, bi-labiate, terminal,             many flowered, and dense thyrse.         -   Buds.—Closed tubular, bulging, flattened ventrically,             approximately 2.5 cm in length on average just before             opening, approximately 1 cm in width on average, near             Red-Purple Group 58B on the upper surface and near             Red-Purple Group 62D on the lower surface.         -   Quantity.—Free-flowering, commonly with approximately 25             flowers on average developing per inflorescence.         -   Inflorescence length.—Approximately 20 cm on average.         -   Inflorescence width.—Approximately 7 cm on average.         -   Fragrance.—None detectable.         -   Lastingness.—Commonly 5 to 7 days on the plant depending on             environmental conditions.         -   Flower length.—Approximately 4 cm on average.         -   Flower diameter.—Approximately 3 cm on average.         -   Corolla tube.—Approximately 4 cm in length and approximately             3 cm in width, funnel form in calyx approximately 1 cm in             length on average and approximately 3 mm in width on             average, inflating for approximately 2 cm to a width of             approximately 1.5 cm, and then flaring into 5 lobes, with             two smaller upper lobes flaring back measuring approximately             7 mm×1 cm, the two larger lateral lobes flaring out             measuring approximately 8 mm×1 cm, and the lower lobe             flaring down measuring approximately 7 mm×7 mm.         -   Corolla margins.—Entire lobes with obtuse tips.         -   Corolla texture.—Pubescent on the outside and glabrous on             the inside.         -   Corolla color.—On the outside near Red-Purple Group 74B at             the bottom of the funnel, to near Red-Purple Group 63B to             63C on the lobe backs, and on the inside of the outer lobes             are near Red-Purple Group 63B with the 3 bottom lobes having             a ring of Red-Purple Group 64A which extends up the main             veins in lines that tracks down the funnel, and the tube             being near Red-Purple Group 69A.         -   Calyx.—Five overlapping lobes extend from the base.         -   Calyx lobe.—Broadly ovate.         -   Calyx size.—Approximately 8 mm in length on average, and             approximately 5 mm in width on average, with the lobes being             approximately 6 mm in length on average and approximately 3             mm in width on average.         -   Calyx apex.—Acute.         -   Calyx base.—Cuneate.         -   Calyx margin.—Entire.         -   Calyx texture.—Glabrous on the inside and pubescent on the             outside.         -   Calyx color.—Near Green Group 143A.         -   Calyx shape.—With five over-lapping lobes.         -   Stamen number.—Five.         -   Anther opening.—Tend to dehisce the full length across the             connective and usually spread widely apart.         -   Anther size.—Approximately 1 mm×2 mm on average.         -   Anther color.—Near Purple Group 77D.         -   Filaments.—Commonly approximately 2.6 cm in length on             average, and near White Group 155B in coloration.         -   Pollen.—Near White Group 155B in coloration.         -   Pistil number.—One.         -   Pistil length.—Approximately 2.8 cm on average.         -   Style length.—Approximately 2 cm on average.         -   Style diameter.—Commonly approximately 0.2 mm on average.         -   Style color.—Commonly near White Group 155B.         -   Stigma color.—Near White Group 155B.         -   Ovary length.—Commonly approximately 6 mm on average.         -   Ovary width.—Commonly approximately 2 mm on average.         -   Ovary color.—Near White Group 155B.         -   Fruit type.—Capsule.         -   Fertility.—Good.         -   Fruit size.—Commonly approximately 1 cm×4 mm on average.         -   Fruit color.—Near Brown Group 200A to 200B.         -   Seed shape.—Somewhat irregular.         -   Seed size.—Commonly approximately 1 mm in length and less             than 1 mm in width.         -   Seed color.—Near Brown Group 200A.         -   Peduncle length.—Approximately 3 cm on average.         -   Peduncle diameter.—Approximately 3 mm on average.         -   Peduncle texture.—Pubescent.         -   Peduncle color.—Near Green Group 137C.         -   Pedicel length.—Approximately 1 cm on average.         -   Pedicel diameter.—Approximately 1 mm on average.         -   Pedicel texture.—Pubescent.         -   Pedicel strength.—Relatively strong.         -   Pedicel color.—Near Green Group 138B. -   Disease resistance: The tolerance/susceptibility to diseases and     pests common to Penstemon plants appears to be typical during     observations to date.

Plants of the ‘Novapenros’ cultivar have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions to date. Accordingly, it is possible that the phenotypic expression may vary somewhat with changes in light intensity and duration, cultural practices, and other environmental conditions. 

We claim:
 1. A new and distinct Penstemon plant having the following combination of characteristics: (a) displays an upright growth habit with strong basal branching and excellent vigor, (b) is lacking a vernalization requirement for flowering, (c) abundantly forms attractive large bright pink flowers with a white throat on sturdy stems, and (d) is well suited for providing attractive ornamentation; substantially as illustrated and described. 